Mounting device capable of positioning a display device at an adjusted angle

ABSTRACT

A mounting device capable of positioning a display device at an adjusted angle includes a linking bar, an elongated frame adapted to hold the panel and having a pivoted end pivoted to the linking bar such that an opposite tilted end is tiltable relative to the linking bar, fore and rear arms respectively having front and rear anchoring ends pivoted to the tilted end and the linking bar, and joined and joining ends joined to each other, and a force counteracting unit which is disposed to counteract the gravity of a combined load of the elongated frame and the display device, and which acquires an additional force to counter a torque increment when the tilted end is tilted so as to hold the display device at a desired angular position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 095216170, filed on Sep. 11, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a mounting device capable of positioning a display device, more particularly to a mounting device with a force counteracting unit which can hold a display device at a desired angular position.

2. Description of the Related Art

Thin-type display devices, such as plasma displays and liquid crystal displays, are mountable on walls to save space. However, since such display devices are relatively large and bulky, they are generally mounted in a fixed and non-adjustable manner. Hence, the viewing angle is also fixed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a mounting device which can hold a display device at a desired angular position and which permits easy adjustment of a viewing angle of the display device.

According to this invention, the mounting device includes: a base; a linking bar having a proximate end connected to the base, and a distal end opposite to the proximate end; an elongate frame which is adapted to hold a display device in position so as to constitute a combined load therewith, and which has a pivoted end pivotally mounted on the distal end about a pivoting axis, and a tilted end that is opposite to the pivoted end, and that is tiltable by virtue of angular movement about the pivoting axis between a rearward tilted position, where the tilted end is closer to the base, and a forward tilted position, where the tilted end is remote from the base, and where the combined load acquires a torque increment resulting from an angular shifting of the center of gravity accompanying the angular movement; a rear arm having a rear anchoring end which is pivotally mounted on the linking bar about a longitudinal axis parallel to the pivoting axis, and a joining end opposite to the anchoring end; a fore arm which has a joined end joined to the joining end at a joint about a joint axis that is parallel to the pivoting axis to define an included angle therebetween, and a front anchoring end that is opposite to the joined end, and that is pivotally mounted on the tilted end such that the front anchoring end is turnable about the joint axis between a highly flexed position, where the included angle is smaller, and a slightly flexed position, where the included angle is larger, the highly flexed and slightly flexed positions corresponding to the rearward and forward tilted positions, respectively; and a force counteracting unit which is configured such that the force counteracting unit counteracts the gravity of the combined load when the elongate frame is in the rearward tilted position, and such that, in response to turning movement of the front anchoring end of the fore arm from the highly flexed position to the slightly flexed position, the force counteracting unit acquires an additional force to counteract the torque increment so as to hold the elongate frame in the forward tilted position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a mounting device according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a linking bar, an elongate frame and a weight compensating unit of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the weight compensating unit of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment in an upright state; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment in a tilted state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of amounting device according to the present invention is shown to comprise a base 2, a linking bar 3, an elongate frame 5, and a weight compensating unit 6 for positioning a display device 1, such as a plasma display and a liquid crystal display.

The base 2 is adapted to be fixed on a wall, and has a mounting rail 21 which elongates in a longitudinal direction.

The linking bar 3 has a proximate end 31 and a distal end 33 opposite to each other in an upright direction. The proximate end 31 has a hook member 35 which is secured thereon, and which has a first hook 351 that is slidable retainingly on the mounting rail 21 so as to adjust a longitudinal position of the linking bar 3, and a second hook 352 that is retained in a hole 311 in the proximate end 31, and a pivot lug 353 that is disposed opposite to the first and second hooks 351,352. An antifriction pad 32 is disposed on the linking bar 3, and confronts the base 2 so as to diminish a friction force between the linking bar 3 and the base 2 to ease sliding movement of the linking bar 3.

The elongate frame 5 has a plurality of fastening holes 51,52 adapted for mounting of display device 1 thereon so as to constitute a combined load therewith. The elongate frame 5 has a pivoted end 53 which is pivotally mounted on the distal end 33 of the linking bar 3 about a pivoting axis in the longitudinal direction, and a tilted end 54 which is opposite to the pivoted end 53, and which is tiltable by virtue of angular movement thereof about the pivoting axis between a rearward tilted position (or a substantially upright position), as shown in FIG. 4, where the tilted end 54 is closer to the base 2, and a forward tilted position, as shown in FIG. 5, where the tilted end 54 is remote from the base 2, and where the combined load acquires a torque increment resulting from an angular shifting of the center of gravity of the combined load accompanying the angular movement of the tilted end 54.

The weight compensating unit 6 includes a rear arm 62, a fore arm 61, and a force counteracting unit. With reference to FIG. 3, a rear arm 62 has a rear anchoring end 621 which is pivotally mounted on the pivot lug 353 of the linking bar 3 about a longitudinal axis parallel to the pivoting axis, and a joining end 622 opposite to the rear anchoring end 621. A rear projecting abutment 64 is disposed in proximity of the joining end 622. The fore arm 61 has a joined end 612 which is joined to the joining end 622 at a joint about a joint axis that is parallel to the pivoting axis so as to define an included angle therebetween, and a front anchoring end 611 which is opposite to the joined end 612, and which is pivotally mounted on the tilted end 54 of the elongate frame 5. The front anchoring end 611 is turnable about the joint axis between a highly flexed position, where the included angle is smaller, and a slightly flexed position, where the included angle is larger. The highly flexed and slightly flexed positions correspond to the rearward and forward tilted positions, respectively. A front projecting abutment 63 is disposed in proximity of the joined end 612. In this embodiment, an axle shaft 66 extends along the joint axis to serve as the joint such that the joining end 622 and the joined end 612 are journalled on the axle shaft 66. The distance between the front anchoring end 621 and the axle shaft 66 is larger than the distance between the rear anchoring end 611 and the axle shaft 66.

The force counteracting unit includes a biasing member 65 and a plurality of washers 68,69. The biasing member 65 is in the form of a coil spring which is mounted on the axle shaft 66 to surround the joint axis and which has a biasing force to counteract the gravity of the combined load of the elongate frame 5 and the display device 1 so as to hold the elongate frame 5 in the rearward tilted position. The biasing member 65 has two ends abutting against the front and rear projecting abutments 63,64, respectively, so as to bias the front and rear anchoring ends 611,621 toward each other such that, when the front anchoring end 611 is displaced to the slightly flexed position, i.e., when the elongate frame 5 is in the forward tilted position as shown in FIG. 5, the two ends of the biasing member 65 acquire an additional force (ΔF) for the biasing member 65 to counteract the torque increment (ΔW) so as to hold the elongate frame 5 in the forward tilted position.

Further, the washers 68,69 are sleeved on the axle shaft 66, and are sandwiched between the joining end 622 and the joined end 612 to provide a friction force (f) that enhances frictional engagement between the joining end 622 and the joined end 612 to thereby help resist manually actuated movement of the elongate frame 5 away from one of the forward and rearward tilted positions. A tightening member 67 is disposed on the axle shaft 66 to permit tightening or loosening the joining and joined ends 612,622 against the washers 68,69 so as to adjust the friction force (f).

As illustrated, by means of the weight compensating unit 6, the user can pull forwardly a top of the display device 1 to tilt the same to a desired angular position, and the display device 1 is held in this angular position without any additional tool.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements. 

1. Amounting device capable of positioning a display device at an adjusted angle, comprising: a base; a linking bar having a proximate end connected to said base, and a distal end opposite to said proximate end; an elongate frame which is adapted to hold the display device in position so as to constitute a combined load therewith, and which has a pivoted end pivotally mounted on said distal end about a pivoting axis, and a tilted end that is opposite to said pivoted end, and that is tiltable by virtue of angular movement thereof about the pivoting axis between a rearward tilted position, where said tilted end is closer to said base, and a forward tilted position, where said tilted end is remote from said base, and where the combined load acquires a torque increment resulting from an angular shifting of the center of gravity of the combined load accompanying the angular movement; a rear arm having a rear anchoring end pivotally mounted on said linking bar about a longitudinal axis parallel to the pivoting axis, and a joining end opposite to said anchoring end; a fore arm having a joined end joined to said joining end at a joint about a joint axis that is parallel to the pivoting axis to define an included angle therebetween, and a front anchoring end which is opposite to said joined end, and which is pivotally mounted on said tilted end such that said front anchoring end is turnable about the joint axis between a highly flexed position, where the included angle is smaller, and a slightly flexed position, where the included angle is larger, the highly flexed and slightly flexed positions corresponding to the rearward and forward tilted positions, respectively; and a force counteracting unit which is configured such that said force counteracting unit counteracts the gravity of the combined load when said elongate frame is in the rearward tilted position, and such that, in response to turning movement of said front anchoring end of said fore arm from the highly flexed position to the slightly flexed position, said force counteracting unit acquires an additional force to counteract the torque increment so as to hold said elongate frame in the forward tilted position.
 2. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said force counteracting unit includes a biasing member which has a biasing force to counteract the gravity of the combined load so as to hold said elongate frame in the rearward tilted position, said biasing member having two ends disposed respectively on said fore and rear arms such that, when said front anchoring end is displaced to the slightly flexed position, said two ends acquires the additional force to enable said biasing member to counteract the torque increment so as to hold said elongate frame in the forward tilted position.
 3. The mounting device of claim 2, further comprising an axle shaft which extends along the joint axis to serve as said joint such that said joining end and said joined end are journalled on said axle shaft, said biasing member being a coil spring which is mounted on said axle shaft and which surrounds the joint axis.
 4. The mounting device of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of washers which are sleeved on said axle shaft, and which are sandwiched between said joining end and said joined end so as to provide a friction force that enhances frictional engagement between said joining end and said joined end to thereby help resist manually actuated movement of said elongate frame away from one of the forward and rearward tilted positions.
 5. The mounting device of claim 4, further comprising a tightening member disposed on said axle shaft to permit tightening or loosening of said joining and joined ends against said washers so as to adjust the friction force.
 6. The mounting device of claim 3, wherein said fore and rear arms respectively have front and rear projecting abutments which are disposed in proximity of said joined end and said joining end, respectively, to abut against said ends of said biasing member, respectively, so as to permit said ends of said biasing member to acquire the additional force when said elongate frame is displaced to the forward tilted position.
 7. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein a distance between said front anchoring end and said joint is larger than a distance between said rear anchoring end and said joint.
 8. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said base has a mounting rail which elongates parallel to the longitudinal axis, said proximate end of said linking bar is retainingly slidable on said mounting rail.
 9. The mounting device of claim 8, further comprising an antifriction pad which is disposed on said linking bar and which confronts said base so as to diminish a friction force between said linking bar and said base to ease sliding movement of said linking bar. 